Cleaner for lubrication fittings



Aug. 23, 1949. T. w. WARZYNSKI 2,479,796

CLEANER FOR LUBRICATION FITTINGS Filed March 18, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

flfz ovize yst Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

My invention relates to fittings generally applied to motor cars forfacilit in greasing the same. A popular type of fitting presents a balltype receptacle for the application of a grease gun spout. In order forthe latter to secure proper communication with the receptacle, the fitof the spout must be with a good contact. However, since most greasefittings on automobiles are underneath or exposed to dust, water or mud,the fittings become so coated or packed with solid matter that it isdiificult to fit the grease gun spout to them.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a tool bymeans of which the coating on the grease fitting may be quickly scrapedoff, whereby to expose the fitting receptacle for the application of thegrease gun spout.

A further object is to provide a tool of the above character which isdesigned to fit the receptacle of the grease fitting retentively,whereby to fix the position of the tool in relation to the receptacle.

Another object is to provide the tool with a pair of spring jaws whichmay be tensioned when the tool is applied to the receptacle and serve asscrapers when the tool is rotated.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-Fig. 1 is an elevation of the tool;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a jaw assembly apart from the tool; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the tool, partly in section, showing itsapplication.

Referring specificall to the drawing, Fig. 3 illustrates the type ofgrease fitting herein considered, which is known as the Zerk. Thus, theshank of the fitting is indicated at l0 and has a nipple II which isthreaded into the automobile part 12 served by the fitting. The outerportion of the fitting terminates with a ballshaped receptacle I3 formedwith a conical base 14.

As it is necessary for the receptacle I 3 and base M to be clean inorder that the grease gun spout ma properly fit the same, the presenttool is designed to accomplish the engagement and cleaning of thereceptacle and its base. Thus, the too] primarily consists of a metaltube 20 which is chamfered at 2| to an edge at the forward end of thetool. The latter receives a cross-pin 22 near its rear end, such pinserving as a key for the manual rotation of the tool.

The forepart of the tube 20 is split in a diametrical plane to permitthe insertion of a steel plate 2.3 As indicated in Fig. 3 this plate hasshoulders 24 seating against the tube at the source of the split anddefining a terminal portion 25 which extends into the tube. The outerportion is perforated at 26 to be secured in the tube by a cross pin 21.

Forwardly of the shoulders 24, the plate 23 is divided with sections 24awhich are identical and intended to serve as jaws. The sections arenormally convergent toward their forward ends, as indicated by theirspacing at 28; They are then cut out with opposed concaved edges 29, andfinally cut away with biased edges 36.

The edges '29 and 3|] correspond in form to the profile of thereceptacle i3 and base l4 of the fitting I 0. Consequently, when thetool is applied to the fitting, the approach of the jaws 24a is directlytoward the receptacle [3 While the tube mounts the latter. When the jawsmeet the receptacle I 3 they are caused to spread and become tensioneduntil they surmount the receptacle as indicated in Fig. 3. The rotation01 the tool by means of the cross pin 22 will noW operate to scrape thedeposit of hard or foreign material from the receptacle l3 and its basel4, rendering these parts clean. When the tool is pulled oil thereceptacle, the latter is exposed in condition to receive the grease gunspout in the usual manner.

It will now be apparent that the novel tool comprises a simple and handyimplement for application to a fitting of the type described in order toquickly clean the same of hardened deposits or dirt. While the shank ofthe tool is rigid for strength, its jaws 24a are divided to be capableof spreading tension when they engage the receptacle l3 in order to makea retentive fit with the same. When this fit has been accomplished, theedges 29 and 30 of the jaws act as scrapers when the tool is rotatedback and forth to remove the objectionable accumulations from thefitting. Finally, it is evident that the tool is only made u of twomajor parts, and is therefore economical to produce.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges or refinements may be made therein without departing from itsprinciple, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes andrefinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

I claimi I 1. A cleaner for a grease fitting having a balltypereceptacle comprising atool having a plate extended for application tothe receptacle divided from its forward end, the inner edges of theplate divisions being formed with opposed concavities suitable to fitthe sides of said receptacle and serve as scrapers for the same whentrained around such sides.

2. The structure of claim 1, the divisions being spaced so closely-as tobecome separably tensioned as they mount and overcome the prominence ofsaid sides in assuming said fit with the same.

3. The structure of claim 1, the divisions being spaced with a forwardconvergence so closely as to become separably tensioned as they mountand overcome the prominence of said sides in assuming said fit with thesame. W

4-. The structure of claim 1, said tool also having a tube directed withone end for application around the receptacle, the tube being split fromsuch end to seat the divisions of said plate in those of the tube.

5. The structure of claim 1, said tool also having a tube directed withone end for application around the receptacle, the tube being split fromsuch end to seat the divisions of said plate in those of the tube, and across-pin through the undivided portion of the plate and seating in thedivisions of the tube to join the latter and the plate againstlongitudinal relative motion.

6. A cleaner for a grease fitting having a ball= type receptacle and aconical base for the same comprising a tool having a plate extended forapplication to the receptacle and divided from its forward end, theinner edges of the plate divisions being formed with opposed concavitiessuitable to fit the sides of said receptacle and with flared portions inforward continuation of such concavities, the latter and said portionsserving as scrapers for the sides of said receptacle and base whentrained around such sides.

7. The structure of claim 1, a tube carrying said plate in its forwardend, and a cross-pin intersecting the rear-end portion of said tube andserving as a handle to rotate the tube on its axis and accomplish thetraining of said sides as stated.

THEODORE W. WARZYNSKI.

No references cited.

